Story of the day - LG Executive Sued by Samsung for damaging Samsung Washers. LG Sues Samsung for stealing OLED technology

[SSOB]

 

Original Scource : Reuters:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/15/us-lg-elec-samsung-elec-indictment-idUSKBN0LJ06Z20150215?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews

 

 

(Reuters) - LG Electronics Inc's home appliances chief has been indicted on a charge of deliberately damaging Samsung Electronics Co Ltd washing machines, escalating the feud between South Korea's top consumer electronics companies.

A LG Electronics spokeswoman confirmed on Sunday that Jo Seong-jin and two other employees were indicted by local prosecutors. Samsung Electronics declined to comment and prosecutors could not be reached for comment.

The impending court case continues a run of disputes between the cross-town rivals. The two companies compete on several fronts, including televisions and home appliances, and have quarrelled publicly over issues such as refrigerator capacity and which of them has superior market share in air-conditioning.

The indictment against LG's appliances chief follows months of investigation. Samsung filed an official complaint in September, accusing Jo and other LG employees of deliberately damaging Samsung washers at retail stores in Germany.

LG had agreed to pay for what it called accidental damage to four machines after mediation by German authorities, but it couldn't resist taking a pot shot at the quality of its rival's products. Samsung railed against what is described as slanderous claims and filed its complaint.

"It is questionable whether there is sufficient evidence to prove that the president of a global company deliberately destroyed the machines where employees of the competing company were present," Ham Yoon-keun, a lawyer who will be defending Jo in court, said in a statement provided by LG. "The truth will be revealed in the courts."

Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that representatives of Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics met recently in an unsuccessful attempt at mediation by prosecutors.

Separately on Sunday, Samsung Electronics subsidiary Samsung Display said that four of its employees were indicted on Friday on charges of stealing organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel technology from LG Electronics affiliate LG Display Co Ltd.

The Samsung Display employees have been accused of illegally obtaining the information from an LG Display contractor.

"Given that this information is one of LG Display’s business secrets, Samsung Display’s such action should obviously be considered as a theft," LG Display said in a statement.

Samsung Display said the indictment was excessive, arguing that the technology in question was already widely known.

 

And tweakers:

http://tweakers.net/nieuws/101391/lg-topman-aangeklaagd-vanwege-beschadigen-wasmachines-samsung.html

 

A top executive from LG is held by South Korean prosecutors indicted because of the intentional damage of Samsung washing machines. Meanwhile LG has filed a lawsuit against Samsung for alleged theft of OLED technology.

 

That reports Reuters, who obtained the information from a spokesman from LG. Seong-jin and two other employees were indicted in a case about washing machines. LG would have damaged washers Samsung in German stores, reads the indictment. From the lawsuit must prove that Seong-jin, who directs the department carries on household equipment, is responsible for deliberately damaging the merchandise of his competitor. Seong-jin must justify itself to South Korean prosecutors at a local court.

 

Samsung filed in September in a complaint against Seong-jin and two other employees, and an investigation was conducted by the authorities. Late last year did South Korean authorities raided at LG's headquarters. The company complained about the investigation, but said earlier that it was involved in the damage to Samsung washing machines; according to LG was accidental.

 

Meanwhile LG has filed suit against a number of employees of Samsung Display. Who would have stolen OLED technology. Samsung denies this, as though conscious technology are widespread, causing no LG can claim. Both companies are firmly on OLED. According to rumors, Samsung and LG previously held talks with each other to reach an agreement. That would not have succeeded, so it has come to mutual lawsuits.

 

Samsung and LG are arranged at loggerheads. The two South Korean companies are fierce competitors. As companies compete each other in the field of TVs, smartphones, refrigerators, washing machines and other equipment.

 

Bizarre story, I think this is BS and what LG did by suing Samsung for stealing their OLED technology is just pure childish. 

[jollander]

TL;DR We should all become lawyers specialized in lawsuits. 

[Bsmith]

Samsung vs LG, who will win?

 

Lawyers will win 

 

 

gogo team lawyer.

but more serious, i hope LG wins, they are kinda nice and not in every part of society active, while samsung is just getting to big to be a good company.

[Victorious Secret]

On topic, I hope LG wins just because their TVs are awesome and Samsung makes some real fantastic garbage these days (in so far as their TVs are concerned) 

[NAP51DMustang]

LG wins, what judge would side with Samsung over an LG exec damaging a washer? like wtf

[Guest]

Life apparently isn't that good anymore eh LG?

Hope LG wins anyway.

[Norman_the_Owl]

I still like LG more

[Legion495]

I'm for LG. I kinda hate Samsung. Samsung is just everywhere... creepy isn't it?

[zacRupnow]

[zEr04]

Just waiting for Apple to jump in at some point...